This is a crystal ball with an exquisite stand. A crystal ball is a ball of crystal or glass believed to have magical properties. Magicians and clairvoyants use the crystal ball as a means of predicting the future and obtaining information that they could not otherwise know. The art of seeing in the crystal ball is called clairvoyance, where the image is seen in the crystal ball. The information obtained can be used to make important decisions in life. History knows various finds of crystal balls that were used in the past. A crystal ball rests in the scepter of Scotland, said to have originally been possessed by pagan Druids. In 1988, the crystal ball and an ancient Egyptian statuette depicting the god Osiris were stolen from the Penn Museum, but were recovered three years later without damage to either object. A crystal ball is among the tombs of the Merovingian king, Childeric I, who lived c. 437 - 481 AD. The grave goods were discovered in 1653. In 1831 they were stolen from the royal library in France, where they were kept. Several items were recovered. The crystal ball was not among them. Crystal balls are also popular items in many children's tales and legends, but their abilities have not been proven.